Mind Palace

I have thoughts running through my head all day. Whether I tune into the messaging or just let them run wild, the thoughts are always there. I’m working to bring into my own awareness what my thoughts are saying because these thoughts can deeply impact me, how I view the world, and how I live my life.

I spend a lot of time in my mind palace-a term that I learned from Christopher L. Heuertz on an episode of Brene Brown’s podcast, “Unlocking Us.” So, mind palace. Sure, it sounds swanky and roomy in there. It sounds classy with white walls and marble floors. But without a house manager, my mind palace is easily trashed. I’m running around in my mind palace with no intention or plan, weaving in and out of rooms, throwing my thoughts all over the walls and floor, bouncing around social media, bumping into self-doubt and negative self-talk, and then spilling out into yard to look around at other houses and telling myself false narratives about the people who live there and their intentions. And what’s more scary is that I won’t realize that I’ve lost all control; I’m not paying attention to my mind palace while I’m “calmly” going through the motions of my life here on on earth.

I’m reminded of this quote often attributed to Horace, “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” I think perhaps some of the most believable lies and unproductive thoughts I’ve ever heard have actually come from within. From me. And I’m over it.

It’s time to talk back. It’s time to notice and rebuttle the thoughts that are no longer serving us. Perhaps, you are in a similar place. We deserve some peace, and it’s possible that the only thing that’s standing in our way is well…ourselves.

We can’t do our best work in the expanse of our mind palace if we keep letting our thoughts trash the place. We can’t do our best work if we continue to talk to ourselves in ways that we would never talk to our childhood selves.

Change our thoughts and watch our actions change the world.

There seems to be more activity in my mind palace these days, and I want that activity to be productive, motivating, and beautiful. We all deserve that. And the world needs it too.